The goat willow is widespread throughout Europe and even extends as far as the Caucasus in Asia. Many willows prefer to grow in damp areas. The goat willow, however, is somewhat more adaptable. It can also grow outside of floodplains or swamps, as long as the soil is moist and nutrient-rich.

It is often found in open areas, such as fallow fields, rubble piles, or in forests following clear-cutting. This is why it is classified as a pioneer plant.
The goat willow blooms particularly early in the year. The first flower clusters often appear as early as the beginning of March. For many insects, this is an important food source after winter. These include, for example, bumblebee queens or butterflies such as the peacock butterfly and the small tortoiseshell.
The Sal willow usually lives to be about 60 to 80 years old. When a tree is felled, a new shoot can grow from the remaining trunk or from the roots. That is why the rootstock may be much older than the trunks growing from it.

The wood of other willows is flexible—the Egyptians already took advantage of this and used the long branches for fishing nets or for weaving baskets. The bark is also well-known because it contains substances that can act like medicine and are said to relieve pain or reduce fever, for example.

Key Statistics on the Sal Willow

This tree was measured in 2025. It is about 10 meters tall, and its trunk has a circumference of 70 centimeters. Approximately 1,342 kilograms of carbon are stored in its wood. The tree also retains about 600 liters of rainwater. Its leaves collect around 526 grams of particulate matter from the air. Through photosynthesis, it produces about 3.5 kilograms of oxygen per year, which is equivalent to an adult’s oxygen needs for about 6 days.